Improvement in steam pum ping-engines



G. H. OORLISS. Steam Pumping-Engines.

No. 215,802. Patented May 27,1879

wazww UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. CORLISS, OF PEOvInENcE, RHODE ISLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM. PUMPING-ENGINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 215,802, dated May 27, 1879 application filed January 6, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. OORLISS, of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements relating to Steam Pumping-Engines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof.

The invention is intended more especially for the large engines employed in pumping water for the supply of towns and cities.

It relates to the mechanism for coiiitrolling the cut-off, bywhich I mean the liberation and closing of the steam-inlet valves. V

The following is a description of what I consider the best means of carrying out the in vention.

I use circular sliding valves with a liberating valve-gearthat is, a valvegear in which the steam-inlet valves are severally opened by the proper mechanism, and are closed auto matically on being detached from the mechanism which opens them, a sufficient force (as gravity a spring, or the action of steam or air upon a piston) being made available to urge the valves toward the shut positions.

The mechanism engages and disengages at each stroke.

I place the cut-oft mechanism under the control of three different forms of regulationfirst, a hand-lever for adjustment by the attendant; second, a fly-ball or other suitable governor, acting through and by changes in the velocity of the engine; third, at pressure governor, which acts only when the water-pressure is in excess of a fixed amount. These three separate means of regulation are so combined that they act in harmony upon the same cut-oft mechanism, each being perfectly free to operate whenever the contingency which it is intended to meet shall arise, while neither can interfere with the operation of the other exceptin g when it is so called into action.

The accompanying drawing forms a part of this specification. It is an elevation, partly in section, showing the novel parts, with so much of the ordinary parts as is necessary to show their relation thereto.

The cut-off mechanism is controlled by the rod I, carrying two cam-shaped surfaces, 1 i. This rod is guided at its upper end so that it is capable only of a vertical movement. Elevating this red shortens the cut-off by causing the valves to be liberated earlier in the stroke. The extreme upward movement of this rod ontirely shuts off the steam. Lowering this rod allows steam to follow farther, and in the extreme position allows the steam to follow full stroke. I connect this cam-rod I to the arm I of the rocker-shaft 1 This shaft has another arm, I, connected with the pressure governor 1 The rocker-shaft I also carries a lever, I for hand adjustment, so connected with it that whatever may be the position of the hand-lever I the rocker-shaft I remains free to move in the direction to shut Off the steam, but not in a contrary direction beyond the point fixed by the said lever I. Thus, while either the speedgovernor I or pressuregovernor I may at any time interpose to shorten the cutoff, neither can in any circumstances lengthen it beyond the point fixed by the handlever I.

The arrangement of parts by which I secure this interdependent operation of the speed-governor l", pressure-governor I and hand-lever I is fully shown in the drawin It will be observed that the rocker-shaft 1 carrying the fixed arms I I is free to move through a portion of its circle independently of the hand-lever I, the extent of this independent movement being limited by the form of the double slot I I in the sleeve of the hand-lever I and the position of the pin I in the rocker-shaft 1 i Assuming that the speed of the engine is a little less than that called for by the speed governor I as adjusted, it is evident that the hook I on the governor-rod I will stand belowits point of engagementfl, on the cam-rod I, rendering the speed-governor inoperative for the time, and leaving the valve mechanism under the control of the hand-lever adjustment 1.

If, now, the resistance Offered to the engine by the water-pressure in the pumps is lessened, or if the boiler-pressure is increased, the increased speed of the engine will cause the governor I to raise the rod I 5 and if this continues, the hook I will engage the pin I upon the cam-rod I, and thereupon the speedgovernor I will assume its function of controlling the action of the valve-gear K by determinin g the point of cut-off.

If, now, the water-pressure in the pumps or main (not represented) is increased, thereby increasing the load on the engine and calling" -thus be restored to the control of the handlever I.

The power of the speed governor I to lengthen the cut-off (or even to cause the engine to follow full stroke) to meet the resistance offered by an increased water-pressure is thus rendered inoperative, while its power to shorten the cut-off to check an increasing speed due to diminished water-pressure remains unimpaired. V

The piston I of the pressure-governor I is connected by its rod I with the arm I, and is put in communication with the water-pressure by a pipe, I". The weight I being just sufficient to counterbalance the regular working water-pressure, the apparatus will remain inoperative until the water-pressure is increased beyond the amount fixed upon for ordinary working. The piston I will then rise, carrying through intermediate mechanism the cam-rod I, and, without deranging the handlever adjustment 1, will shorten the cut-off, and before the pressure can be increased to a dangerous extent the pressure governor I will shut off the steam altogether. The extraordinary pressure being removed, the weight I will restore the parts to their ordinary positions, and the engine will again pass under the control of the hand-lever adjustment 1 subject to the discretion of the attendant.

Modifications may be made in-the form of many of the parts of the mechanism described. The form of the hand-lever and the means of clamping it in any required position may be Varied.

In place of the fly ball governor herein shown, any regulator may be substituted that derives its power to act from changes in velocity. The pressure-governor may act by receiving the pressure of the water through a flexible diaphragm instead of through the piston I The mechanism herein shown for tripping the valves is made the subject of a separate application for patent.

I claim as my improvement in steam-engine regulation 1. The hand-lever I with suitable holding means, I and having a slotted bearing, I in combination with a speed-governor and the valve-gear of a steam-engine, so that when the hand-lever is clamped the speed-governor may independently act to shorten the cut-off, but cannot lengthen it beyond the point fixed by the hand-lever, as herein specified.

2. The hand-lever I with suitable holding means, 1 and having a slotted bearing, 1*, in combination with a pressure-governor and the valve-gear of a steam-engine, so that when the hand-lever is clamped the pressure-governor may independently act to shorten the cutoff, but cannot lengthen it beyond the point fixed by the hand-lever, as herein specified.

3. The hand-lever I, with suitable holding means, 1, and having a slotted hearing, I, in combination with the valve-gear of a steamcngine, and with both a speed-governor and pressure-governor, so that when the handlever is clamped either of the governors may independently act to shorten the cut-01f, but neither can lengthen it beyond the point fixed by the hand-lever or by the other governor, as herein specified.

4. ,The combination, with the valve-gear of a steam pumping-engine, of a speed-governor and a pressure governor so combined that either governor may shorten the point of cutoff independently of the other, as herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of December, 1878, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEO. H. CORLISS. 

